The first foreign editions of Tuutikki Tolonen’s charming middle-grade hit Monster Nanny have been published to warm reviews. Elle magazine in France reviewed the French edition of the novel, Le Monstre nounou:

”While very funny, her novel also makes us think about the essence of monstrosity, of fear and perhaps death. It goes without saying that we are eagerly expecting book 2, Monster Route, and that it will be the perfect opportunity to read book 1 all over again! Some enthusiastic readers have already wagered that if in ten years Monster Nanny is not a classic, then it will mean that monsters do not exist.”

Also the French bloggers have been enthusiastic about the classic potential of the book:

”This novel is a bit crazy, surrealistic but also tender and endearing. It could become a real classic for the new generation.” – Parfums de Livres blog, France

”I loved this fantastic tale, which introduces such a cute hairy monster! I loved the drawings and the way the author tells us the story at once with a child’s eyes but at the same time promoting great values such as bravery, family ties or solidarity.” – Alice Neverland blog, France

In Hungary, the translation of Monster Nanny (Mumusdadus színre lép) got selected for the TOP50 children’s books in 2016 by a prestigious committee at the Institute of Hungarian Children’s Literature.

2017 will also see publications of the U.S. edition by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, the Dutch version by Luitingh-Sijthoff, and the Swedish edition by Rabén & Sjögren. We’re excited!

Pasi Pitkänen has become known for his richly detailed illustrative work on several children’s books such as the Monster Nanny duology by Tuutikki Tolonen. He has also worked at Rovio Entertainment as an illustrator, character designer and graphic designer; Angry Birds: Bad Piggies’ Egg Recipes (Rovio Books 2012), illustrated by Pitkänen, was named Best First Cookbook of the Year at 2012’s Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. Among Pitkänen’s hobbies are quantum physics, people-watching, B-movies, insects and baking.

Tuutikki Tolonen is the author of several acclaimed children’s books, plays and academic articles. For Monster Nanny she received the Arvid Lydecken award. She teaches creative writing and has worked as an editor and reporter at Vinski, Finland’s only literary journal for children. Her inspiration for the Monster Nanny duology sparked during a family breakfast. “My son Leo, then six, said: ‘I heard on the radio yesterday that all moms have to go on vacation and monsters will take their places,” she says.